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Aramis Black Mysteries #2
A Shred of Truth
In The Best of Evil, Aramis Black uncovered family secrets and historical conspiracies, hoping that his own dark past had come to certain resolution. But now, in the dark of night, he finds his brother unconscious and tied to a statue in Nashville's Music Row ...with the initials AX carved into his back.
A shadow from his former life has reappeared, casting threats of violence and retribution. And soon the attacker is swinging his blade of self-righteous judgment directly at Aramis, calling upon him to "face his sins." Can Aramis finally break free from the guilt of his old ways... or will he succumb to the vengeance of an arrogant sociopath?
A shadow from his former life has reappeared, casting threats of violence and retribution. And soon the attacker is swinging his blade of self-righteous judgment directly at Aramis, calling upon him to "face his sins." Can Aramis finally break free from the guilt of his old ways... or will he succumb to the vengeance of an arrogant sociopath?
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2007
About the author
Eric Wilson
136 books471 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eric Wilson is a retired NY Times bestselling author with 21 published books in over a dozen languages. He wrote fiction (suspense, mystery, supernatural), film novelizations, and nonfiction (biography, memoir, travel).
Eric's books, in order of publication:
Shattered Nerves
(unpublished--written in high school)
Something Suspicious in Bear Flag
(unpublished--written in college)
Dark to Mortal Eyes
Expiration Date
The Best of Evil
A Shred of Truth
Facing the Giants
Flywheel
Fireproof
Field of Blood
Haunt of Jackals
Valley of Bones
One Step Away
Two Seconds Late
Three Fatal Blows (cancelled)
October Baby
The Eagle's Nest (cancelled)
Amelia's Last Secret
Alice Goes the Way of the Maya
Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson
Minutes Before Midnight (cancelled)
Samson
From Chains to Change
American Leftovers
What Are You Going to Do?
Confessions of a Former Prosecutor
Come Back Stronger (date not set)
Through the Storms We Faced (never found publisher)
Eric Wilson is a retired NY Times bestselling author with 21 published books in over a dozen languages. He wrote fiction (suspense, mystery, supernatural), film novelizations, and nonfiction (biography, memoir, travel).
Eric's books, in order of publication:
Shattered Nerves
(unpublished--written in high school)
Something Suspicious in Bear Flag
(unpublished--written in college)
Dark to Mortal Eyes
Expiration Date
The Best of Evil
A Shred of Truth
Facing the Giants
Flywheel
Fireproof
Field of Blood
Haunt of Jackals
Valley of Bones
One Step Away
Two Seconds Late
Three Fatal Blows (cancelled)
October Baby
The Eagle's Nest (cancelled)
Amelia's Last Secret
Alice Goes the Way of the Maya
Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson
Minutes Before Midnight (cancelled)
Samson
From Chains to Change
American Leftovers
What Are You Going to Do?
Confessions of a Former Prosecutor
Come Back Stronger (date not set)
Through the Storms We Faced (never found publisher)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 27, 2012
I totally love Aramis Black.
I would write a longer review, but I am sleepy and my brain doesn't want to function right now. Perhaps I will add more later when I am more awake. :)
UPDATE
Aramis Black is a man trying to turn his life around. He used to be part of an anarchist group and led a violent lifestyle involving drugs, but after a religious epiphany he decided to move to Nashville to live with his brother and start over anew.
The reason I like Aramis's character is because the circumstances in A Shred of Truth tempt him to turn back to his former way of life. A madman is making threats against a family member and Aramis knows that he will do anything to stop the man, including going above the law and killing him. I identified with his character because I know what it's like to be faced with the temptation to revert to one's old ways, and I think others will identify with him for this reason, as well. But if you're going to read this, please read The Best of Evil first because it is the novel in which we are first introduced to Mr. Black. Enjoy!
UPDATE UPDATE
The author has just informed me that he has hidden secret clues both in A Shred of Truth and The Best of Evil. I think I am going to go on an adventure!
I would write a longer review, but I am sleepy and my brain doesn't want to function right now. Perhaps I will add more later when I am more awake. :)
UPDATE
Aramis Black is a man trying to turn his life around. He used to be part of an anarchist group and led a violent lifestyle involving drugs, but after a religious epiphany he decided to move to Nashville to live with his brother and start over anew.
The reason I like Aramis's character is because the circumstances in A Shred of Truth tempt him to turn back to his former way of life. A madman is making threats against a family member and Aramis knows that he will do anything to stop the man, including going above the law and killing him. I identified with his character because I know what it's like to be faced with the temptation to revert to one's old ways, and I think others will identify with him for this reason, as well. But if you're going to read this, please read The Best of Evil first because it is the novel in which we are first introduced to Mr. Black. Enjoy!
UPDATE UPDATE
The author has just informed me that he has hidden secret clues both in A Shred of Truth and The Best of Evil. I think I am going to go on an adventure!
March 1, 2009
Aramis Black is a private detective working in Music City USA (aka Nashville, TN). In this previous novel (which is referred to early and often in this book), he tracked down a family treasure and had a variety of adventures. Now he's back, helping his brother celebrate the release of his new CD and on the trail of a new threat. This time, the connection is a bit closer to home for Black, who is quickly pulled into a web of conspiracy and deceit.
"A Shred of Truth" has its moments and I genuinely liked the character of Aramis Black. In contemporary Christian fiction, it's nice to have a guy who struggles with his daily walk and how to live that out effectively. It's also nice to have a character who is aware of who he was but isn't defined by it nor does he allow it to become too much of a burden. In short, Black feels like a real guy, working every day to live out his life in a way that is a walking example of what it means to be Christ-like.
I just wish the mystery that surrounded that character struggle was as intriguing. Eric Wilson does a nice job of throwing in red herrings and keeping the plot moving, but when the final solution is presented, it still feels a bit unsatisfying.
"A Shred of Truth" has its moments and I genuinely liked the character of Aramis Black. In contemporary Christian fiction, it's nice to have a guy who struggles with his daily walk and how to live that out effectively. It's also nice to have a character who is aware of who he was but isn't defined by it nor does he allow it to become too much of a burden. In short, Black feels like a real guy, working every day to live out his life in a way that is a walking example of what it means to be Christ-like.
I just wish the mystery that surrounded that character struggle was as intriguing. Eric Wilson does a nice job of throwing in red herrings and keeping the plot moving, but when the final solution is presented, it still feels a bit unsatisfying.
March 27, 2008
Aramis thinks long presumed dead mother might be alive. Gets sent on a cat and mouse chase. Lots of dialogue that isn't labeled, difficult to follow because I had to keep backtracking to find out who was saying what.
June 25, 2008
I hate giving books bad reviews. My mind keeps flashing to those "books are our friends" posters I remember seeing in fourth grade. But I also believe in the saying a true friend stabs you in the front And that is exactly what I'm doing to this book. This book that deals so much with slicing and dicing.
I hated doing it too. I wanted to like this book. I went into this relationship thinking things would work out. I loved our first date, The Best of Evil I had a great time. Drank some coffee, talked some history and theology. But the second time around something seemed to be missing.
I found the most of the book unbelieveable. I mean seriously, *and don't read this next couple of lines if you're ever going to consider reading the book because I'm about to spoil the whole thing I hope I wrote long enough for you to not have skipped to the bottom of it* the professor? That's TOO perfect. Not believeable. His mother alive? Too perfect, not believeable. AND for me it took away from the first book. And what's the deal with Diesel's father? And Diesel for that matter...
The facts that were in this book felt thrown in randomly. I didn't feel that way in the last book. It felt like Wilson was stretching to make connections to add to a text that wasn't there. (I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else.)
As I sat in my snuggie listening to the crinkle of static electricity zap between my skin and the feltish material, all I could think was, "is this REALLY the way the book is turning out?" And I wasn't happy. That's not what a book should do to me. Or anybody.
*edit* If Wilson writes another Aramis Black Mystery you can still count me in. It's not that I'm a glutton for punishment, it's just that I thought his first book was really good. He'll only get two strikes from me though, and then he's gone.
I hated doing it too. I wanted to like this book. I went into this relationship thinking things would work out. I loved our first date, The Best of Evil I had a great time. Drank some coffee, talked some history and theology. But the second time around something seemed to be missing.
I found the most of the book unbelieveable. I mean seriously, *and don't read this next couple of lines if you're ever going to consider reading the book because I'm about to spoil the whole thing I hope I wrote long enough for you to not have skipped to the bottom of it* the professor? That's TOO perfect. Not believeable. His mother alive? Too perfect, not believeable. AND for me it took away from the first book. And what's the deal with Diesel's father? And Diesel for that matter...
The facts that were in this book felt thrown in randomly. I didn't feel that way in the last book. It felt like Wilson was stretching to make connections to add to a text that wasn't there. (I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else.)
As I sat in my snuggie listening to the crinkle of static electricity zap between my skin and the feltish material, all I could think was, "is this REALLY the way the book is turning out?" And I wasn't happy. That's not what a book should do to me. Or anybody.
*edit* If Wilson writes another Aramis Black Mystery you can still count me in. It's not that I'm a glutton for punishment, it's just that I thought his first book was really good. He'll only get two strikes from me though, and then he's gone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2012
I didn't want to put the book down! Eric Wilson is a phenomenal writer. This was the first suspenseful mystery I've read in years. I really think teenage boys would like this book, and they don't usually like reading, so that says a lot.
September 24, 2009
I liked this book better than the first. The ending surprised me, and it made me think.
October 12, 2010
Same charming MC as THE BEST OF EVIL, this time trying to stop a killer, but always a step behind.
February 25, 2020
This book wasn't as good as the first in the series. I ended up just skimming it for the most part.
February 9, 2014
Although I like Eric Wilson as an author, this book seemed to be kinda random in its plot. It gives you bits and pieces of clues in a random assortment throughout the book, but does it in an way that seems to be rather ADD in its prime suspect. It ties it all in rather well at the end, but it often leaves you wondering whether Aramis is hallucinating or not. It is very unrealistic in that his mom was alive the whole time and she didn’t try to contact them ever.
The basis of the book is that Aramis’ brother, Jonny Ray, is attacked and the letters AX are engraved in his flesh. Aramis then follows a series of emails to accomplish tasks and try to find out who the guy is and take him to justice.
This book will leave you thinking, “Wait, what was the point of this book?”, but it is definitely a good read.
The basis of the book is that Aramis’ brother, Jonny Ray, is attacked and the letters AX are engraved in his flesh. Aramis then follows a series of emails to accomplish tasks and try to find out who the guy is and take him to justice.
This book will leave you thinking, “Wait, what was the point of this book?”, but it is definitely a good read.
October 2, 2023
If you loved Best of Evil, Shred of Truth will REALLY have you on the edge of your seat. Seeing how Aramis gets out of certain situations is definitely a page turning thriller. This book is not meant to be put down. Instead, it is to ignite every nerve synapse of your mind to keep you thinking. Shred of Truth has so many twists by the end of the book, your mind will be blown. Get strapped in and enjoy the ride for the conclusion of Aramis Black. You won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews